Carbon encapsulated metal oxide nanocomposite, method for its preparation and its use in Li-ion batteries

The present invention provides a new nanocomposite containing carbon-encapsulated transition metal oxide nanoparticles with a core-shell structure, wherein the transition metal oxide core has a diameter from 5 nm to 50 nm which is covered by a graphitic coating of a thickness from 1 nm to 5 nm. The nanocomposite is promising for its use as anode material in lithium ion batteries. This nanocomposite is particularly suitable when the transition metal oxide is Fe 3 O 4 . Due to its magnetic properties, further applications such as therapeutical uses and/or uses as ferrofluid are evident. The carbon-encapsulated transition metal oxide nanocomposite can be synthesized by a simple one step pyrolysis of an organic transition metal compound in the absence of solvents or surfactants.